Freshman: A New Beginning

Freshman%3A+A+New+Beginning

Sam Dvorin, Staff Writer

In the transition from Fort Couch to the High School, many things change for the incoming freshmen.  These changes play a pivotal role in changing these newcomers’ lives.  The High School is an entirely new environment for these students with new academic options, sports, clubs, and social opportunities.  An incoming freshman will face many choices that will reflect how much they will succeed in the coming years.  For these young teens, these choices may seem daunting, and rightly so, but with the help of the staff here at the high school, these students certainly will be able to accomplish achievements later in life.

I spoke to some freshmen teachers and administrators to see what they had to say about the subject of transitioning to the high school; the advice that they gave depicted some key strategies that the freshmen, if not all students, can use to better their high school experience.

I first spoke to freshmen geometry teacher Mr. Erbrecht to see what he had to say about the transition from Fort Couch to the High School: “ Come in with an open mind, realize that things are going to be a little bit harder, a little bit more difficult.  They are going to push you to new levels.  And so coming in with an open mind puts you in a state where you are coachable.  And students that come in coachable, ready to learn new things and new ways at this level are putting themselves in a position of success.”

Next, I spoke to Associate Principal Dr. Tim Wagner.  He had some extra insight into the subject because before being the Associate Principal at the High School, he was the gifted teacher at Fort Couch.  After seeing both pieces of the puzzle, Dr. Wagner offered this advice: ”I think that one of the biggest challenges for students coming from eighth grade to the high is the additional time management that is needed.  Students have access to so many more activities, clubs, sports practices, and sporting events that just take up a lot more time.”

In addition to Dr. Wagner, I spoke to Principal Dr. Angelo about the transition.  Dr. Angelo wisely had this advice about the subject: “Come here, be a panther, be a team member, make the most of your opportunities and don’t look back.  Take advantage of all the opportunities that are presented to you.  

Finally, I headed down to the library during 3-4 to see how the freshmen themselves were doing.  Freshman Carson Damon said that her “homework and getting to classes on time” was her biggest challenge in the transition.

And Ben Bacdayan said, “I look forward to in sports going up to the higher levels and playing against better competition and in academics I’m looking forward to taking harder classes and get to my goal of going to college.“

It seemed as though the overwhelming majority of freshmen are a bit overwhelmed, but as everyone that has gone through high school knows, it can be done.  It is no doubt that the freshmen class will have to work hard to get the job done, but these youngsters certainly will do their best and will make the High School proud.